Listen to National Experts: What the Birthing Women of San Luis Obispo Need to Think About!

These posts originally appeared as my Food for Thought series on Facebook. I wanted to provoke the women of San Luis Obispo county into thinking about their birth and parenting choices. By quoting directly from books I wish to stimulate discussion and encourage women to seek out information and become more educated. My hope is you will empower yourself through this process.

“Our lives begin to end 

the day we become silent about things 

that matter.”

~ Martin Luther King, Jr. 

from his unforgettable

 "I Have a Dream" speech

Doctor or midwife: How to choose which is right for you.

Baby Bonding and Attachment: Getting Parenting off to a good start.

Induction and Due Dates: What you need to know to keep anyone from scaring you into a decision.

Understanding Risks: Learning more so you can choose the risks you are most comfortable taking.

Parenting in Labor: Things to know about the decision to use pain medication.

Labor & Birth: Things to remember about normal labor and birth.

A Parenting Poem

If I had my child to raise over again, I'd finger paint more, and point the finger less. I'd do less correcting, and more connecting. I'd take my eyes off my watch, and watch with my eyes. I would care to know less, and know to care more. I'd take more hikes and fly more kites. I'd stop playing serious, and seriously play. I'd run through more fields, and gaze at more stars. I'd do more hugging, and less tugging. I would be firm less often, and affirm much more. I'd build self-esteem first, and the house later. I'd teach less about the love of power, And more about the power of love. It matters not whether my child is big or small, From this day forth, I'll cherish it all.

    From 100 Ways to Build Self-Esteem & Teach Values by Diana Loomans (c) 2004 New World Library

Loving Guidance

This is an essay I wrote in answer to a question as part of my La Leche League leadership application process. It is an example of how I practice what I preach in my 5 Steps to Creating a Healthy Family. It took me 17 years full of lots of mistakes to come to this. I hope you can learn from my experience. 

Question: From infancy on, children need loving guidance, which reflects acceptance of their capabilities and sensitivity to their feelings.  Describe how you practiced loving guidance. 

I love my son but I have come to understand he is not a self starter. I AM a self starter and this has created conflict between us at times. As we parent, our children's true natures are slowly revealed to us. My son is a dreamer, a reader, a talker. He is intelligent, opinionated, sensitive, polite, and helpful. He is not a risk taker and is slow to transition, whether that is from sleep to wakefulness or childhood to adulthood. One of the best books I read that helped me understand my wonderful son was, "Raising Your Spirited Child" by Mary Sheedy Kurcinka. Joe isn't spirited. He is in her spunky category. He naturally has a very regimented body schedule but his emotional needs are like those of a spirited child. Once I started using many of her suggestions for structure, our lives together got better. My other favorite book was "Your Child's Self-Esteem" by Corky Briggs. This book gave me approval for how I was already interacting with my son. Her advice to never speak to your child any less respectfully than you would interact with a co-worker became the underpinnings to our relationship. When I have strayed from this it has always lead to conflict and Joe quickly lets me know I'm being inappropriate.

Taking all this into account I approached Joe's senior year with some trepidation. I knew there was lots to think about, lots to get done, and big decisions coming. That meant Joe was also going to know all of that and would be very slow to start. Refer to above; not a risk taker, slow to transition.

Step one: I scout ahead. I read the book, "Colleges that Change Lives", by Loren Pope, loaned to me from another mother whose son was 2 years older. I loved this book all about colleges who can really make an impact and who engage students in a different way. I fell in love with a few of the schools and longed to be the one going away. I didn't mark any of these as the ones I liked. I wanted him to choose what he liked. 

Step two: I encouraged Joe to read the book. I waited. I talked to him about my excitement about the book and college. I waited. I eventually gave it as a family chore requirement. He reluctantly began reading but finished it very enthusiastic about going away to school.

Step three: I listened to Joe tell me why he had picked out his top school choices. I asked my husband Mike to read through the book and look at Joe's choices. He too became excited and did further research with Joe on-line.

You need to understand that we had been exposing Joe to the idea of college and different colleges since a very young age. We had been to Cal Poly's Open House numerous times, walked Cal Berkeley's campus many a time, toured UC Santa Barbara and Santa Cruz already and, learned about a special program at Santa Barbara for art students. But I had a hard time visualizing my son being happy and successful at any of these schools. There was something about their bigness, their impersonal quality, their regimented structure that I thought would not match well with Joe. So I was thrilled there were other schools to choose from.

Step four: Joe applied to 4 schools out of the book and 3 UCs. He was not interested in Cal Poly because he knew we would want him to live at home. This was not an easy process. I will forever be grateful to his AP English teacher for requiring this as part of their grade and supporting them in writing the college essays.

Step five: I found out that Whitman College was sending a rep to Santa Barbara to do interviews with possible students. Mike took the day off and the 3 of us went down. We made a nice family day of it.

Step six: Joe was accepted into several schools including 2 UCs, 3 across the country and Whitman in Washington. My heart ached at the thought of him going to school in Tennessee or Arkansas but I didn't tell him that. I hope he never knew. He was up for a special scholarship at the school in Arkansas so Mike and Joe flew back there to see it and go through a competition.

Step seven: Joe had a serious high school relationship. They were both seniors and trying to decide what to do. She wanted to go to UC Santa Barbara. Joe was leaning toward UC Santa Cruz. We went with her family to tour Santa Cruz again. It was very difficult for them. Joe asked me what he should do. I told him it was up to him but his dad and I had done some school apart and although it wasn't fun our relationship had survived. I made sure he knew it was up to him; his dad and I would be happy no matter where he chose to go to school.

Step eight: We visited Whitman together over spring break. I scouted ahead and made appointments for him to have a tour of the art department and talk to an art professor. As soon as we arrived I knew this school was a fit for Joe. The more we saw, the more people we spoke to, the more sure I became. I kept these thoughts to myself as much as possible. I was trying hard not to influence him but I'm sure Joe could tell I was excited. But Joe became quieter and quieter all day. When we got back to the motel he said he needed to call Marisa. I gave him some privacy. I didn't know what to think. 

On the way back home I asked him what he thought of the school and it came out in a slowly increasing flood; all the things he liked about it and how excited he was to get to go there. He had discussed it with Marisa the night before. She had told him he should go where he wanted to go not where she wanted to go. He was so happy.

Step nine: Joe and Marisa needed lots of time that last summer together. Although eventually they did end up breaking up I am glad to say she is still his friend and ours. I will always be grateful she was wise enough to tell him it was okay for him to choose to go away to school.

Step ten: I scouted ahead and found out they had a special wilderness program for incoming freshman before school started. I knew right away this would be a great way for Joe to start. He had been hiking and backpacking with us before he could walk. I knew this small group would be way easier for him to create friendships. My husband wasn't keen on spending the extra money. I asked Joe if he wanted to do it. He said yes and I advocated with his dad. The trip was a huge success and the best way Joe could have begun his Whitman career; feeling confident in his friendships, confident in his abilities and confident in his surroundings. He has continued to thrive at Whitman and I no longer have to scout ahead.

I know my son. I listen, watch and think. I use my intuition combined with my adult wisdom. If he has an idea I encourage him to act on it. If he is stuck I present an idea to him. I create a structure for that idea to flourish. I support him physically, financially and emotionally as he works on his idea. Sometimes I have to push because he is a dreamer, content to dream rather than do. I am thrilled to cheer his successes and to lend support if he falls. We talk about what he learns from both. I hope he knows he can always turn to me because I am his biggest fan. Joe and I have a very strong connection and I am learning just how far that connection can stretch as he roams farther afield and moves into adult relationships. I am content that intuition, respect, investigation and learning, communication and allowing freedom for him to move as far away from me as he is comfortable while always welcoming him back to my side has been a successful way to parent.

My Birth Statistics: 2010 through 2012

Statistics are an interesting animal. You can shape them or skew them various ways. They are used by many people to prove points or to motivate or even manipulate people into taking an action they desire. When asked about statistics on issues such as risks associated with a possible course of action doctors often answer with non-answers. Many times I have heard doctors say, "if it is your baby that dies the risk was 100% not worth taking" or "I only recommend this or do this procedure when it is necessary." They rarely give couples what percentage of their clients do they deem it necessary to do the procedure on, or how that compares to a local, national or global average. They certainly don't offer the parents what studies have proven the statistic should be based on best outcomes for mothers and babies. Those studies weigh the risks of both doing and not doing any given procedure.

Cesareans

For cesarean section the World Health Organization took a global look. Because they are a world-wide organization they looked at poor countries with low access to cesareans and wealthy countries with lots of access to cesareans. Their studies say a cesarean rate of between 5 to 10% of births is ideal and further when you get beyond 15% you are now doing more harm than good to mothers and babies. My total rate has increased from 15% to 17%. My rate in the last 3 years alone, when calculated as I believe WHO intended: total number of births and number of cesareans for any reason, is a depressing 22%. My numbers prove to me what my gut had been sadly telling me for a while; it has gotten harder to keep women out of the operating room. When looking at my statistics is important to remember how few births I attend; 27 since 2009. An individual birth has the ability to shift my rates wildly. But let's put my numbers into context.

Here is the national trend.

Here is the state trend.

But as I said numbers can be shaped many ways. Let's compare my section rate not using WHO's way of compiling statistics. Instead let's use the way California compiles their stats. They choose to not include breech babies, twins, premies and abnormal presentation. Abnormal presentation seems so vague to me it could include posterior babies (facing the wrong way), babies with a hand coming beside their faces (compound presentation) and babies that don't get their heads lined up just right (acenclytic). I have had all of these over the years and most but not all of them came through their mama's pelvis just fine. Using this system of exclusion my rate for the last 3 years plummets to 7% while California's is shocking.

OK now I'm not feeling so bad and a lot less frustrated. But wait! Maybe this doesn't reflect me at all. Maybe we just have really great providers and hospitals? Using identical parameters of exclusion in the statistics here are our local hospitals 2011 rates:

 French 21%

Sierra Vista 32%

Twin Cities 22%

Marian 30%

Now I'm definitely feeling better about my 7%! Let's not forget that I have done births at all of these hospitals in the last 3 years interacting with the staff and working within their individual medical establishment cultures. Don't forget to factor in that my clients use a variety of care providers, 15 in the last 3 years; from the ones who never saw an intervention they didn't like to the most
hands-off low-tech midwives. I've supported high risk moms and teen moms. I've had women hire me 1 week before their birth, 1 day before their birth and 2 this year during their births! Fifty-six percent of my moms were having their first babies and only one of them ended up having a section because of failure to progress.

Now let's compare my primary (first time) cesarean section rate to our hospitals rates. Using their compilation methods I have a 4% rate. The local hospitals 2011 rates:

French 12% 

Sierra Vista 18%

Twin Cities 10%

Marian 16%

Because I go to whichever hospital my client's choose for a birth place, 41% of my births took place in the 2 hospitals with the highest surgical birth rates.

But numbers are just a snap shot. They certainly don't tell the whole story. Let's look back at my true total of 17%. Ten percent of those aren't included in the numbers above. What are their stories? Some moms had a herpes outbreak and felt it was safest for their baby to be born via surgery. A small number were failed v-bacs. About 1% were failed inductions for one reason or another. In the last 3 years I had 2 un-diagnosed breech babies. Both moms labored great but when their baby's position was discovered a cesarean was performed. I had a high risk mom go into labor with her premie baby the day after we first met. Another was a mom trying for a vaginal birth after her first child was a cesarean baby. After laboring at  home and in the hospital for a long time she ultimately had a second section. This time I was able to explain to her exactly what was going on inside her pelvis which made her babies need to come through an incision in her belly.

This last mom called me because her doctor had said her baby was too large and scheduled her for a section for the next day. She was in a panic. We both worked very hard for a week trying to find a care provider willing to take her and let her try for a vaginal birth whom her insurance would cover. We couldn't find one and after an exhausting week of discussions with her doctor she ultimately chose to have a scheduled cesarean. I was with her as much as Marian Hospital would allow and helped her become one of the first moms to latch her baby on in the recovery room immediately after her surgery. 

But women have lots of worries about more than just cesareans. Here are my statistics which speak to those issues; the dreaded pitocin, its connection with induction and the need for pain medications!

Pitocin

Since 2010 I have had 22% of my mamas use pitocin at some point during their birth process; either to induce labor (7%) or to move a labor along (15%). This represents a significant increase from my past 14% rate. On closer inspection I see the change has come in my use of pitocin to augment or move a labor forward. 

Induction  

My induction rate has held steady since 1993; 7%. The only reason for induction in the last 3 years has been because their water had broken and we couldn't get labor rolling with natural methods. All of these women were able to labor without resorting to pain medication and birthed vaginally. 

Augmentation

Between 1993 and 2009 7% of my clients opted to use pitocin to augment their labors. But in the last 3 years 15% utilized pitocin to try to make progress during a stalled labor. Half of the stalled labors, or 7.4%, were transferred into the hospital after a planned out-of-hospital birth. Fifty percent of those transfers ended with a vaginal birth. 

Pitocin plus Pain Medication

The other 7.4% who augmented their labor with pitocin had chosen to take pain medication and then their labor stalled. Ultimately all of these women birthed vaginally. My hat is off to the 33% of my moms who labored on pitocin without pain medication. I am in awe.

This amazing mama successfully navigated a high risk pregnancy, a pitocin induction for broken waters and a vaginal birth in the operating room; all without pain medication!

Pain Medication 

Speaking of pain medication... let's see what my numbers say about the issue. Since 2010 I have had 19% of my moms choose to use pain medication of some sort during their labor. This is up from my 1993-2009 rate of 11%. Not what I had hoped for but to put it into perspective I looked up the official epidural rate in California in 2012. Turns out it was 42%. It is hard for me to believe this is an accurate number considering how ubiquitous epidural use has become in our culture. Digging into it further I see that in 100% of the cases my moms chose pain meds, pitocin was involved; either before or after. It turns out 10% of my moms opted for pain medication and then ended up on pitocin and 10% of my moms needed pitocin and then chose an epidural to  help them cope or as part of an over-all strategy to make forward progress during their birth. I don't know how that compares with the rates for California or our individual hospitals. They don't break their rates down this way.   

Speaking of progress...as a doula I am always pushing the boundaries of the places and providers that my clients have chosen. This usually involves giving moms the information they need to confidently say no to routine policies that are not based in evidence-based practices, such as the 40 week automatic induction or rigid guidelines on fetal heart monitoring. One of the areas my clients and I have been pushing is gravity enhanced non-traditional pushing positions, i.e. birthing on hands and knees, in a squat and standing. I have felt that I wasn't getting anywhere with this issue but the numbers tell a different story. I am happy to say 15% of my moms in the last 3 years have birthed within a traditional setting using a non-traditional position. This is a testament to the strength of will and confidence of those mamas. If I was at all instrumental in creating that to happen I am satisfied.    

This beautiful 9 pound 4 ounce baby boy was born quickly and easily as his mother stood beside her hospital bed.

By the Numbers
2009-2012
27 births
55% first time mothers 

Total Vaginal Birth Rate: 78%

Adjusted Vaginal Birth Rate: 93%

        (See above story for explanation of adjustment)

Adjusted Vaginal Birth Rate First Babies: 96%

Spontaneous Start of Labor: 93%

Total without Pain Medication: 81%

Pain Medication after Pitocin: 10%

Labor without Pitocin Augmentation: 85%

Labor without any Pitocin: 78%

Successful VBAC Rate: 50%

Looking at it another way...

Total C-section Rate: 22%

Adjusted C-section Rate: 7%

    (See above story for explanation of adjustment)

Adjusted Vaginal Birth Rate First Babies: 4%

Total Pitocin Rate: 22%

Pitocin Induction Rate: 7%

Pitocin Augmentation Rate: 15%

Total Pain Medication Rate: 19%

Re-framing Birth

The typical first time mother forgets that birth is about so much more than just her labor and birth experience. It is about her baby's experience too. She gets so caught up in "planning" her birth, practicing her labor "tools" and focusing on all the people and things she thinks she needs to travel this incredible, transformational journey. She forgets about her most intimate traveling partner; the baby she carries inside her. Birth is not an isolated day of importance. It is part of a continuum which started from conception and will continue a lifetime. The mother/baby dance of love and learning begins at the beginning; in utero. Labor and birth is a unique opportunity to teach your baby about how to handle stress and fear through the power of love and connection which should flow seamlessly into those first golden hours and days immediately following birth.

Think about your baby during your birth. Send him or her waves of love and reassurance. This is your first act of motherhood. Listen to Dr. Nils Bergman on how to proceed once your baby is in your arms.

Nils Bergman, MD, MB, MPH, CHB, DCH on the Social and Emotional Intelligence of Infants

"Babies are brilliant, inexperienced people."

Diane West co-author of The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding and Making More Milk.

A Positive Cesarean Birth

Approximately 10% of women will truly need to give birth to their babies via surgery. For most of the women in this country this is far from a positive experience. Their babies are born behind a screen and then are moved to a plastic box, called an isolette, far enough away the mothers can't really see them. Once they are checked over and determined to be breathing ok, they are wrapped up so only their tiny faces are visible and given to their dads sitting next to the mothers' heads. The mothers who are lying flat desperately want to at least see their babies' faces. The dads try to find a way to accomplish this with their floppy newborns. Mothers crane their necks trying to catch a glimpse of their babies' gaze. They are biologically driven to look deep into their babies' eyes and connect. In just a few minutes dads and babies are whisked away to a nursery. All the other normal biologic functions which kick into gear as soon as the mothers have given birth are disrupted. These are called claiming behaviors. We are meant to smell our babies, kiss our babies, touch our babies. We are meant to look them over from head to toe and to count each tiny finger. And of course to put the baby to our breast and begin the breastfeeding relationship. Our senses and our babies are heightened at the moment of birth. We are both exquisitely aware of each other. We are meant to connect on a deep emotional, biological, chemical level; a connection which will last a life time. But for most mothers around the world having cesarean babies they get none of these. By the time they get to really see their babies they have been washed and dressed and are deeply asleep; too sleepy to breastfeed for  hours.

For a different perspective on the cesarean birth experience please watch this video. Then talk to your doctor, your midwife, your doula, your husband, and your hospital. You and your baby have a right to the most natural positive birth possible. You can make this happen!

"Whole"istic Mamas Support for After Your Baby Arrives

You are invited to join my "Whole"istic Mama and Papas parenting support and social group! 

For the last twenty years I have been asked by moms who had attended my birth classes if  I would please start a mom support group after their babies came. Unfortunately I was too busy raising my son, being a wife, birth educator, doula, foreign exchange student teacher/coordinator and horse trainer and community birth advocate to say yes. In 2012 I finished my La Leache League leadership training and finally decided they were right. Moms who were choosing to parent from an attached perspective needed more support in our community. 

Because I have always viewed parenting as a dynamic constantly evolving experience I purposely chose to not call the group "attachment parenting". I wanted to encourage a broader spectrum of mamas to feel welcome. So I created the term "Whole"istic Parenting which I felt better reflected my views of parenting the whole child. At our meet ups and in our face book group I encourage mamas to make conscious choices for their child's physical, intellectual and emotional health. Research shows these are not distinct areas but are forever inseparably intertwined. 

The group offers mama-to-mama support and information sharing, as well as a social outlet with several park or play dates a month. The conversation is free flowing, covering whatever is on the minds of the attending mamas from sleep issues, balancing family needs, extended family, nutrition, traditional and alternative health providers, education, communication and more. As a veteran working mom, past home and public schooling parent, and La Leche League leader I gently offer guidance and resources. I ultimately believe mamas know the right path to choose for their unique family situation when given a small amount of nonjudgmental information and encouragement to listen to their heart. To receive invitations to our Blanket Babies & Toddler Time meet ups and join the on-line group feel free to friend me on face book and request to join.

Wisdom

Supporting women in labor I have come to believe this with all my heart. Even when birth takes a dramatically different path than the one envisioned, we can heal ourselves from it if we were treated with love and respect for our bodies and our spirits throughout the process.

I am Proud to Say I am an Attached Parent

Occasionally I ask a guest to write a piece for my blog. For Attachment Parenting month I posted a simple question in my Holistic Mamas and Papas group. What does Attachment Parenting mean to you? One of my mamas wrote such a lovely paragraph I asked her to expand on her ideas for my blog. Then I invited her to be my guest on the radio to discuss parenting more. Since Emily is a fairly new mama, Lucia is still under one, I also asked  a veteran mama, Shelly Candelario, to join us on the show. Both these mamas exhibit such thoughtful caring and commitment to their kids my heart was deeply touched. They also spoke candidly about the struggle to create balance in their personal, family, and professional lives. As a veteran attached parent myself this is a very personal subject to me. I could write volumes on it and still not be done. Instead I invite you to read Emily's post. Then listen to our discussion on the radio. Next read a book, visit a La Leche League meeting or join my Holistic Mamas and Papas. You'll find all that info at the end of Emily's piece. First let her inspire you.   

                      

Get Inspired

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world; indeed it is the only thing that ever has." Margaret Mead, woman, daughter, wife, mother and controversial cultural anthropologist.



Inspired? Join the Birth & Baby Resource Network or International Cesarean Awareness Network. You can find the info about meetings in the side bar under Meet Me or go to my Labor of  Love Virtual Rally event page and find out the next step.

A Visit to Grandma and Grandpa Stover

Joe was screaming. His cries pierced my heart and filled my head with panic. It was our first long car trip. My son was about 8 weeks old and we were on our way to Walnut Creek where Grandma Jo and Grandpa Al lived. We had started out feeling fresh and excited to be going to visit family and show off our beautiful new baby. What could be more cozy and family-like than this? Family was still so new to us we reveled in all its many nuances and traditions.

Now after several stops to nurse and change diapers we realized that a simple car ride of 5 hours could stretch incredibly long if you have to stop every 2 hours for 30 to 40 minutes. Would we ever get there? Then disaster struck. 
Click here to find out what you as a parent should NEVER do!

Vaccinations a Hot Topic!

California Measles Outbreak; What's a Parent to Do?

How to Not Gain MY Trust

I am a Community Lactivist

I believe in breastfeeding both for the healthy growth of a child and the healthy growth of a mother. When a new mother breastfeeds she learns to watch and listen to her child's cues. These simple facial expressions, body movements and vocalizations which trigger our innate response to nurture are the start of a life long conversation...

See community lactivism in action and read more about why as a doula and La Leche League leader I support breastfeeding women.Here. 

I Grew up on Wonder Bread Sugar Butter Sandwiches; the confessions of a birth educator

Starting from Scratch 

I grew up on wonder bread sugar butter sandwiches; except it wasn’t even butter but soft margarine from a tub. I'd like to tell you otherwise. I'd like to say we only ate the freshest of the fresh, that my mom was an organic gourmet chef who had all the time in the world to spend in a kitchen and garden creating the healthiest food on earth. Instead my reality was a divorced mom who was trying to work and raise 4 kids. Yes she knew how to grow food, can food and cook food from scratch because she grew up on a farm in the Missouri Ozarks. That was part of the reason why she didn't do any of that anymore. She embraced the modern conveniences which blended science with abundance. I was a part of the "Tang" generation. Mornings were challenging getting all of us ready and out the door. Sometimes breakfast was Nestle Quik she had put a raw egg into stirred up and called an egg shake. This was better than the beer shake (same recipe just substitute beer for Quik) my dad sometimes had as a boy in Germany right? Once she even made us oatmeal cookie dough for breakfast. She was just glad to get the oatmeal into us without argument. We thought it was the greatest breakfast ever. Captain Crunch came camping with us and spaghetti from a can was often for dinner. So it's pretty ironic that I teach pregnant moms how to eat in my Healthy Beginnings classes and carefully peruse the food logs I require of my doula clients so I can counsel them on optimal nutrition for pregnancy. You could say I have had a long road to travel to become a healthy eater. Understanding my journey may help you tackle challenges on your nutritional road with less stress from guilt. Remember we are replacing cells in our body all the time so we can literally recreate ourselves. Click here to read the rest of my confessions.

What My Husband Didn't Do

Months ago I was asked the question how did my husband show his support of my choice to breastfeed our son? I am ashamed to admit that I couldn’t think of a single thing my husband had done or said. Recently I turned this question inside out and took another look. What had my husband not done? When viewed this way it became blindingly clear all the ways my quiet husband had been my mainstay throughout my breastfeeding experience and parenting. Read about it here.

My Classes

PREPARING FOR BIRTH

Healthy Beginnings/Healthy Choices: Get your pregnancy off to a great start!

Why Should I Take Classes? If you are planning a homebirth, using a midwife or have a doula already on board you may be wondering if you need classes. Besides isn't birth natural?

Heart, Mind & Body Birth Preparation: My series blending the best of many "methods" to give you the tools to create a positive birth uniquely right for you.

Intro to Parenting 101; a prerequisite to Parenting 102: Read what a class is like.

Basic Class Info: The who, what, when and how

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What My Clients Say


My Classes are featured in a book! 
Read Baby Daddy to get one of my dad's thoughts on my birth classes.

Support for After Your Baby Arrives: My "Whole"isitc Mamas group

Birth Stories

Learning from Our Birth Sisters. Why I have begun my birth story project.

A Safe Place: Stories Can Help Us Heal. The importance of sharing, listening & honoring women's birth stories.

Baby Comes in a Rush: Twin Cities Birth for Second Time Mom. Hear Jackie's story.

First hospital water birth in the county!

Shasta's Birth: Sierra Vista Birth of one of my doula clients. Hear Jora's story.

A Perfect Birth Experience: First Hospital Waterbirth in the County. Hear Kim's story.

A Doula's Story: a Homebirth in Florida. Read this beautiful piece about birth & being a doula.

This bundle decided to be breech.

Breech Birth: Turning Her Plans Upside Down! Hear Colby's story.

Out-of-hospital Birth Center Waterbirth. Read a dad's perspective & watch a video!

A Quick Homebirth. Hear Billea's short & sweet birth & story.

Filled in as doula for this sweet birth.

Parker's Santa Lucia Birth Center Birth: A photo essay

The Challenges of Being in Labor While Being a Mommy. Hear Kelly's humorous homebirth story.

Kelly's second birth was not at all what she expected.

Finding Your Path;

two women's stories. Following your heart while making birth choices.

Bodie's Birth; a cesarean story

Keeper of the Space. A beautiful poem birth story by a doula in Florida. 

Parenting Issues, Ideas & Choices

My Parenting Group: For on-going support after your baby arrives.

Re-framing Birth: Thinking about birth from your baby's point of view.

To Clamp or Not to Clamp? That is the Question!: Video demonstration of the importance of waiting to cut the cord.

Your Baby's First Latch: video of initiating breastfeeding via breast crawl.

Baby's First Bath: rethinking this bonding tradition.

Deciding about Giving Vitamin K to Your Newborn?: Learn the pros and cons, why, when and how.

The Social and Emotional Intelligence of Infants: The mother /baby dance of life-long love and learning. 

Deciding about Circumcision: Hear what a pediatric urologist has to say.

Food for Thought: Baby Bonding and Attachment

What My Husband Didn't Do: How a dad can make all the difference when it comes to breastfeeding.

Food for Thought: How Labor Pain Medication Affects Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding & Kangaroo Care: One woman's neonatal intensive care unit story.

Speaking out for breastfeeding: Hear me interview our local La Leche League Leader about the challenges and benefits of breastfeeding.

New Research into Bonding with Your Baby: Latest info backs up what our hearts have been telling us.

More Good News About Breastfeeding: Latest studies on health benefits for mom and baby & it's financial impact.

Family Bed: Learn About the Latest Information on the Benefits vs. Risks of Sleeping with Your Baby.

A Visit to Grandma and Grandpa Stover: Important safety information about traveling with your baby.

Mothering as a Spritual Quest: Something to think about as you are about to embark on the most incredible experience of your life: motherhood.

Why African Babies Don't Cry: A Kenyan woman shares her grandmother's wisom on mothering.

New Mothers Grow Bigger Brains: Study shows significant brain development in women after giving birth

Need a Laugh? Every parent needs to use humor to help relieve the normal stress of parenthood.

Breastfeeding and Working: I did it and you can too!

Inspiration: La Leche League my inspiration to start the South County Holistic Mamas.

Your Baby or Toddler's Exposure to Toxic Flame Retardants: Learn about this commonly overlooked carcinogen.

I am Proud to Say I am an Attached Parent: Learn more about Attachment Parenting. Listen to 3 moms talk on the radio, be inspired by a new mama and gain resources for going more in depth into this topic.

Vaccinations; a Hot Topic! I will be compiling a variety of my writings and links to others writings on this important parenting decision.

TOPICS OF INTEREST TO PREGNANT COUPLES

The best reason to take care of yourself!

Food for Thought: Posts from my Facebook series designed to get pregnant couples thinking.

Pregnancy the First Step into Motherhood: Dr. Zoe Wells, ND talks about many pregnancy issues.

Why You Need to Create a Healthy Balanced Pregnancy: How your choices can effect your child's health the rest of their lives.

Ideas for Creating a Healthy Pregnancy: Info on various local wellness resources and why they are important for your pregnancy.

Your Nutritional Path: I Grew Up on Wonder Bread Sugar Butter Sandwiches; confessions of a birth educator

The amazing Courtney
from Cook Well

Pregnancy Nutrition: Here's the right way to do it.

Courtney's Low Sugar Recipes to Boost your Protein and Iron.

Consider Chiropractic Care: Learn why this should be part of every pregnant woman's self prenatal care.

Massage Therapy-More Than Just Pampering: Learn how prenatal massage can promote a healthy pregnancy and support women experiencing difficulties.

Prenatal Water Massage: Help for the aches and pains of pregnancy, as well as, high blood pressure & sciatica. A blissful way to learn deep relaxation, breathing & movement for birth.



Why Does Birth Feel Like This?: Wonderful quote on the process of becoming a mother and mothering.

Making a Baby Shower Special: Advice on Creating a Heartfelt Experience.

Read their story in Finding Your Path

Finding Your Path: two women's stories

Making the Decision about Where to Birth; Hospital or Home: Read one woman's story.

Making the Decision about Where to Birth; part 2: Parker's birth at Santa Lucia Birth Center

If Your Baby is Breech: Turning your baby, new research on safety, & decisions to make.

If Your Baby is Arriving Early: Latest study says c-section may not be the way to go.

Class client whose husband wrote
Baby Daddy.

Get Educated: A Midwife's Reading List

More Education: My Reading List

Baby Daddy: a book just for him.

Consider Chiropractic Care during Pregnancy

I would like to introduce you to a resource I rely on for my doula clients, Erin Parsons,DC owner of San Luis Obispo Chiropractic. Over the years I have reached out to Dr. Erin because of the quality care she provides and her gentle personality which my pregnant clients love. Some chiropractors are not comfortable adjusting pregnant women. Others do not have the specialized training required. On top of all of that Erin is a mother just like you. She has been through pregnancy and birth. She believes in your body's abilities to birth naturally. Each time you go for a visit you will get a boost to your confidence about your coming birth day. I am positive you will like her as much as my client who traveled from Paso Robles for optimum pregnancy health or another who drove up from Santa Maria for help in turning her breech baby.

I asked Dr. Erin to please explain how chiropractic care should be part of your plan to thrive in pregnancy and this is what she said.

Pregnancy, Chiropractic, and Pain

Do you think Chiropractic care is ONLY for back pain? Have you been told it is dangerous to be adjusted while you are pregnant? Not True!! While Chiropractic is GREAT for back pain, neck pain, and headaches (to name a few) in ANY PERSON of ANY AGE... it is also a fantastic way to help pregnant women. If you think about it for a minute, what is a common thing people know about being pregnant... You shouldn’t take
medications; including common headache and back pain relievers.

So what is a woman to do when her belly is sticking out so far she can't see her feet and her center of gravity is so far off balance she has to arch her back even further to stop from falling over? This change in posture can quickly irritate the low back, as well as, cause neck stiffness... and don't forget the hormones!! The fluctuation of hormones is one of the main causes of headaches and morning sickness.

Now remember, NO MEDICATIONS!  Should you suffer? No Way!
Chiropractic is not only good for the overall wellness lifestyle, it is also great for pregnant women to alleviate their back pain, neck pain, and headaches, and minimizing morning sickness. Adjustments put the spine and pelvis into proper alignment taking pressure off of the nerves which are usually causing the pain. After
everything is lined up properly, the muscles can relax, and everything functions better.

Pregnancy, Chiropractic, and Prevention

Waiting is a common mistake. Many women wait until pain comes on. They may think, 'I feel fine, I don't need Chiropractic care'. But getting regularly adjusted before, during, and after pregnancy prevents pain from coming on and keeps pain away.

Most of us don't think of our nervous system as being part of the creation process but our central nervous system regulates all the systems in our body. When you have a misaligned vertebra and/or a pinched nerve your entire nervous system is being compromised while your body is busy creating this fragile new human being. Doesn't it make sense that you would want this baby to have your full nervous system potential to help him or her grow to their full potential?

Pregnancy, Chiropractic, and Labor

Regular Chiropractic care throughout your pregnancy helps encourage a faster labor and delivery by promoting looser, more mobile pelvic bones. The three bones in your pelvis need to be as mobile as possible to be able to expand during labor and delivery while the baby is descending. To give you the best chances of a quick labor, I recommend a full evaluation of your spine followed by developing an individualized treatment plan for you to follow throughout your pregnancy. Typically a healthy woman with minimal spinal misalignments is recommended to get adjusted once a month for the first 6 months, 2 times per month for her 7th and 8th months, and every week thereafter until delivery.

Special Pregnancy Situations

Unfortunately, there are times when the baby is not in the optimal head down position. The baby can be either sideways, or in the head up/bottom down breech position in the womb. The Webster Technique is a special chiropractic adjustment that has successfully encouraged babies to turn into a better position. The Webster Technique has a specialized treatment plan to optimize your chances of success.

To learn more about Dr. Erin visit San Luis Chiropractic's web site.
You can contact her at info@sanluischiropractic.com or call 805-541-BACK(2225) to make an appointment.

Visit here for more ideas on how to thrive during your pregnancy.